Pittsburgh Pirates Rebuild - 2027 Postseason

The 2027 MLB Postseason has come and gone, with the defending champions the Pittsburgh Pirates hoping to repeat as champions. There's a lot of exciting things to cover, and we will cover each series all the way down to the World Series in the post.

AL Wildcard Series - Red Sox vs. Yankees

The Boston Red Sox squared off with division rival New York Yankees in one of the two AL Wildcard Matchups. The series went three games. After the Yankees took game 1, 7-5. The Red Sox would rally to win the next two games, helped by SP Tanner Houck (53/53) allowing 1 run in 5 inning in game two, as the Red Sox would win 2-1. They would go on to eliminate the Yankees with a 7-5 win.

Series MVP: Boston Red Sox SS Ceddanne Rafaela (49/49) was series MVP, slashing .417/.417/.667 with 1 HR and 1 RBI and a 1.083 OPS.

AL Wildcard Series - Twins vs. Rangers

In a surprise, at least to me, the Twins handled the Rangers in two very close games, taking game 1 by a score of 1-0 and game two by a score of 4-3. RF Matt Wallner (56/56) hit the decisive homerun in game 2, a two run shot in the 5th. The Rangers were held to just 10 hits over the two games of the series, as the .500 Twins advance into the Divisional round.

Series MVP: Minnesota Twins LF Matt Wallner (56/56) slashed .250/.333/.875 slugging 1 HR, scoring 2 runs, and driving in 3.

NL Wildcard Series - Cubs vs. Dodgers

The Dodgers handled the Cubs in two games, despite being the road team. Game 1 wasn't close as the Dodgers raced out to a 5-0 lead, the Cubs got 2 runs back but the Dodgers added 4 more to end the game 9-2. SS Mookie Betts (59/59) went 5-5 with 3 doubles. Game 2 was more of the same, as the Dodgers responded to 2 early runs from the Cubs putting up 5 runs over the next 4 innings. The Cubs would get 2 back but a final solo homerun from DH/SP Shohei Ohtani (80/80) kept the Dodgers lead safe.

Series MVP: Los Angeles Dodgers DH/SP Shohei Ohtani (80/80) won the series MVP. Ohtani hit .500/.556/1.250 with a 1.806 OPS hitting 2 HR with 2 RBI's.

NL Wildcard Series - Braves vs. Diamondbacks

The upstart Diamondbacks sent the Braves packing in just two games, CF Michael Harris II (80/80) hit a 2-run home run in game 1, and drove in 3 of the Braves 4 runs, but the Diamondbacks walked the Braves off in the 10th with a RBI double from LF Dylan Carlson (45/45). In game 2, SP Brandon Pfaadt (57/57) went 6.1 innings allowing just 1 earned run on 5 hits, allowing the Diamondbacks to cruise to a 5-1 win, securing the series sweep.

Series MVP: Arizona Diamondbacks C Gabriel Moreno (76/77) hit .500 for the series earning him the MVP nod.

AL Division Series - Orioles vs. Red Sox

The AL East division rivals went the distance in the first ALDS matchup, and the Red Sox, once again, played comeback. The Orioles jumped out to a 2-0 series led thanks to a convincing 8-3 win in game 1, and a 5-2 win in game 2. But on a dime the series flipped, and the Red Sox had no issue controlling the tempo of the series from there on out, and they won each of the next three games by 5 runs, trailing just 1 time the entire rest of the series, when C Creed Willems (60/60) knocked in a 2-out RBI single to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st of game 4. The Red Sox had 4 players with 6 or more hits in the series.

Series MVP: Boston Red Sox 1B Triston Casas (58/59) takes home MVP honors, slugging 2 HR's and driving in 6 runs while scoring 4 of his own. He also hit 3 doubles in the series.

AL Division Series - Twins vs. Mariners

The Cinderella story for the Twins came to a screeching halt against the AL West winning Seattle Mariners. Despite the Twins scoring first in all 3 games of the series, they found themselves swept, with the average run difference at -2 a game. The Mariners held just a 1-5 record against the Twins in the regular season, but showed that it meant little in the post-season. Mariners starting pitching allowed just 4 earned runs in 21.1 innings pitched.

Series MVP: In the three game sweep, Seattle Mariners LF Tyler O'Neill (49/49) slashed .400/.455/1.000 in the series, hitting 2 HR and driving in 3.

NL Division Series - Pirates vs. Dodgers

The Pirates squared off with the Dodgers to decide who moves on the the NLCS, the Pirates looking for a repeat trip towards winning a pennant, and the Dodgers looks to finally start living up to hefty expectations after falling short the previous 2 years.

Game 1

The Dodgers jumped out to a quick lead, after LF Brandon Marsh (53/53) hit a 2-out, 2-run RBI single in the 1st off Pirates ace SP Paul Skenes (80/80). But Skenes would lock in, allowing no more runs until he was pulled in the 5th. The bullpen remained spotless, getting 2.2 scoreless innings from SP Mel Ramos (53/53). DH Kyle Manzardo (56/57) hit the deciding homerun, a 3 run blast in the bottom of the 4th. SS Bo Bichette (56/56) would add a 2-run jack of his own in the 7th as the Pirate took game 1, 6-2.

Game 2

Fueled by a 5 run bottom of the 6th, the Pirates held on to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Dodgers with a 7-6 win. C Henry Davis (57/57) started the scoring with a 2-run single, then with 2 on, SS Jack Brannigan (44/45) hit a 3-run home run, putting the Pirates up 7-2. The Dodgers would tack on 3 runs in the top of the 7th, and 1 more in the 8th, but CL Aroldis Chapman (46/46) worked a perfect 9th inning that included 2 strikeouts.

Game 3

In a do or die game, the Dodgers squeezed by the Pirates, 5-4. The scoring was opened in the 1st by the Pirates as they would plate 2, but the Dodgers would respond with 2 of their own. Once again the Pirates would jump ahead with another 2 runs in the 5th but the Dodgers tied it back at 4 in the bottom of the 5th. The game would remain tied until the 10th inning, where  LF Brandon Marsh (53/53) hit a 2-out run scoring single to win the game for the Dodgers. All 5 runs for the Dodgers were scored with 2 outs.

Game 4

Game 4 was another back and forth affair, the Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 3rd, but the Dodgers responded with 4 of their own in the bottom half. 2 inning later in the 5th the Pirates would score 4 of their own, putting the Pirates up 6-5. In the 7th, SS Bo Bichette (56/56) would hit a solo shot, his second homerun of the series, putting the Pirate up 7-5 late. CL Aroldis Chapman (46/46) was brought on to close the series out, but struggled with the Dodgers lineup, giving up 2 free passes, 2 hits, and 1 earned run, while only recording 2 outs. Pirates rookie LHP Yoldin De La Paz (46/46) was called on to get the final out, getting SS Mookie Betts (59/59) to flyout harmlessly, sending the Pirates back to the NLCS.

Series MVP: Pirates SS Bo Bichette (56/56) slashed .353/.389/.706 with a 1.095 OPS. He hit 2 HR and drove in 6 runs, while scoring 4 times.

NL Division Series - Nationals vs. Diamondbacks

The Nationals finished with 98 wins in 2027, the second most in the MLB, only to the 111 win Pirates. But inexperience was the story in the series, where just one regular starter in the series for the Nationals showed up to play offense. 3B Brady House (46/52) slashed .438/.471/.750. 3 of the 4 games were one run affairs, including the deciding 4th and final game, where the Diamondbacks once again walked off their opponents in extra innings thanks to an RBI double from RF Corbin Carroll (63/65) to advance into the NLCS.

Series MVP: Diamondbacks 3B Ryan McMahon (48/48) who drove in 4 runs in the series while also scoring 4 times. He hit .533 in the series.

AL Championship Series - Mariners vs. Red Sox

Tired of playing comeback, the Red Sox made short work of the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS. After each teams took a game from one another, including a very convincing 8-1 win by the Mariners in game 2, the Red Sox rattled off 3 consecutive wins to punch their ticket to the post-season. The Red Sox outscored the Mariners 32-13 in the final 3 games of the series, while the entire starting lineup for the Red Sox had at least 1 RBI in the series. LF Roman Anthony (75/80), 1B Rafael Devers (54/54), and CF Jhostynxon Garcia (59/59) all hit 2 homeruns apiece.

Series MVP: Boston Red Sox LF Roman Anthony (75/80) was stellar sending the Red Sox to the World Series, batting .400 and hitting 2 HR's and driving in 9 runs.

NL Championship Series - Pirates vs. Diamondbacks

There are a lot of similarities between these two squads, the Diamondbacks are a true young up and coming team, something the Pirates were the two years previous. The series went an exciting 6 games, with the Diamondbacks jumping out to a 2-0 series lead. But the Pirates would win the next 4 straight to send the Diamondbacks home, and to send the Pirates back to the World Series, their second trip in as many years.

Game 1

The normally elite Pirates offense was absolute grinded to a halt, as two Diamondback pitchers combined to throw a 4 hit shutout. SP Paul Skenes (80/80) struggled to stretch his start, lasting just 4 innings, while allowing 7 hits and 2 walks, he did managed 8 strikes outs, but the Diamondbacks hung 3 runs on him, which was more than enough to take the win as the Diamondbacks won game 1, 5-0.

Game 2

SP Reid Detmers (59/59) was tasked to even the series for the Pirates in game two. But he struggled with command throughout the game, walking 5, and allowing 2 earned on just 1 hit. The normally stellar rookie LHP Yoldin De La Paz (46/46) was roughed up for 5 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits in just 0.1 innings pitched. All of this resulted in a 6-run, 6th inning giving the Diamondbacks a 8-2 lead. The bottom of the 6th saw the Pirates score 2 to chip into the lead. After trading runs in the 7th, the Diamondbacks headed into the 9th with a 9-5 lead. SS Jack Brannigan (44/45) hit his second 3-run home run of the playoffs to cut the lead to one, but the Diamondbacks would hold on wining 9-8, giving them a 2-0 series lead.

Game 3

The Pirates needed a huge win to avoid a 3-0 series hole, and SP Jared Jones (56/56) was assigned the task. Jones would go 7 strong innings, allowing 2 runs, on 3 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 6. His outing gave the taxed bullpen a needed reprieve, but the Pirates offense once again was struggling, finding themselves down 2-1 heading into the top of the 9th. A leadoff homerun by RF Jo Adell (52/52) tied the game up at 2, and a clutch 2-out DH Kyle Manzardo (56/57) double scoring 1 gave the Pirates the lead in the 10th. The Diamondbacks went 1-2-3 in the bottom half, as the Pirates hold on to win their first of the series.

Game 4

The Pirates offense woke up for game 4, racing out to 7-runs in the first 4 innings, including a 4-run 4th inning, fueled by a 3-run homerun by 2B Termarr Johnson (61/61). The Diamondbacks would do their best to chip away at the lead but it proved too much as the Pirates would take Game 4, 8-5.

Game 5

With a chance to take the lead in the series the Pirates turned to Paul Skenes once more, the Diamondbacks once again forced Skenes to work, as he made it just 5.1 innings, allowing 2 runs while striking out 8. This game would come to be known as the LF Mike Tauchman (46/46) game. With 2 outs down by 2 runs in the 7th, Tauchman was called to pinch hit, he took an 0-1 pitch to left center for a dramatic 3-run homerun. The Diamondbacks would not be outdone as they evened up the game with a SS Geraldo Perdomo (46/46) run scoring single. Both teams would play into the 11th without scoring, until Mike Tauchman came up to bat with 2 runners on in the 11th, and once again smacked a 3-run homerun to left center, giving the Pirates a 6-3 win, and a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6

Returning to PNC, the Pirates hoped to close out the series with SP Reid Detmers (59/59) toeing the bump, but as the Diamondbacks proved all series, they were as pesky as ever. Detmers went just 3 innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 walks and 4 earned runs. The good thing for the Pirates is that their bullpen responded, in 6 innings pitched they would allow just 3 hits and 1 walk, with 0 runs allowed while striking out 7. This gave the Pirates a chance. With single runs in the 6th and 7th, the Pirates found themselves down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th. CF Kevin Alcantara (52/63) hit a lead off homerun to immediately cut the lead to 1. After a Termarr Johnson walk and a Dairon Blanco strikeout, Bo Bichette would single on a 3-2 pitch, both runners would advance a base on a errant throw. 3B Coby Mayo (57/60) would add an infield single, loading the bases. And with 1B Tyler Locklear (49/49) up to bat, he would smack a single through the right side, scoring both Johnson and Bichette, sending the Pirates to the World Series in dramatic walk of fashion.

Series MVP: Pirates 1B Tyler Locklear (49/49) lead the team in hits in the series with 9, hitting 1 HR and driving in 4 runs. He slashed .321/.345/.464 in the series with a .809 OPS.

2026 World Series - Pirates vs. Red Sox

So we finally make it to the World Series, with the Pirates hopes of repeating on the line, and the Red Sox looking to win their first World Series since 2018, after making the playoffs just twice in the time before this season.

Game 1

Game 1 was played to a 4-4 tie until extras. Paul Skenes once again took the the mound and as he has done all post-season, struggled to get out of the 5th inning, going just 5.2 inning, allowing 4 earned runs. The Red Sox ace SP Garrett Crochet (75/77) luckily did not far much better, going 6 while allowing 4 runs. The difference came in the 10th, when CF Jhostynxon Garcia (59/59) was hit by the first pitch of the inning. 1 pitch later 1B Triston Casas (58/59) delivered an RBI triple, and was brough home himself with a sacrifice fly. The Pirates went down quietly in the 10th and the Red Sox stole away home field advantage from the Buccos.

Game 2

Game 2 started hot for the Pirates, after a Bo Bichette walk and a Coby Mayo double, Tyler Locklear brought them home both with a double of his own. Reid Detmers was dealing, striking out 11, but when the 6th inning hit, the Red Sox sparked a rally, tying the game with a two out rally that saw 3 straight reach safely, and the tying run be scored by a wild pitch. It wasn't until the 11th inning that anyone would score, and unfortunately for the Pirates it would come in the form of a solo homerun by 3B Kristian Campbell (55/59) which proved to be the difference, giving the Red Sox a solid 2-0 series lead.

Game 3

The series shifted to Boston with the Pirates desperately needing a win to make this a series. Jared Jones was tasked to right the ship for the Pirates. The Pirates offense got started early, with a 2-out Kyle Manzardo RBI single to score Termarr Johnson, who led the game off with a single. But the Red Sox responded immediately, with another clutch at bat from Triston Casas, this time in the form of a 2-out, 3-run homerun. This would prove to be all the offense the Red Sox would need in game 3, as the Pirates owuld only manage 1 more run, coming in the 9th off a Tyler Locklear run scoring double. The Pirates now faces a insurmountable 3-0 hole.

Game 4

Unfortunately the wind had been stolen completely from the sails of the Pirates. Boston Red Sox SP Erick Fedde (45/45) tossed perhaps his best game of his career where he went 7 innings of shutout ball, striking out 8 while only allowing 2 hits and 1 walk. The Red Sox would score runs in 4 different innings, and RP Walker Buehler (46/46) worked 2 clean innings to close out the series with a convincing 6-0 game 4 win. The Boston Red Sox are your 2027 World Series champions.

Series MVP: Red Sox 1B Triston Casas (58/59) wins his second series MVP title of the 2027 post-season. He hit 2 HR's and drove in 6 runs, slugging a hefty .733.

2027 Playoff Tree

Summary

While I can't exactly complain about making back-to-back World Series, winning 1, I felt like for how well this team performed in the regular season we should have seen a better showing against the Red Sox. The starting pitching, specifically, struggled in the post-season with each starter having a ERA north of 4.50. Reid Detmers had the best ERA of the starting staff, with a 4.74 ERA.

• Ironically enough, the best starting pitch wasn't even in the starting rotation for the Pirates. SP Mel Ramos (53/53) who appeared in 6 games and pitched 15.1 innings posted a 3.52 ERA with 15 strikeouts to 3 walks.

• Bo Bichette continues to be the most important gear on the offense, posting a 2.3 WAR in 14 games in the post season.

• 1B Tyler Locklear had himself a post-season, hitting 2 homeruns and leading the team with 12 RBI. He slashed .340/.392/.574 and posted a .967 OPS. The only batter with a better OPS was Jack Brannigan (1.000) but he had 20 less plate appearances.

• But overall the Pirates struggled on offense with a .654 teamwide OPS and a 4.41 team ERA.

For the second season in a row we head into the off-season with a lot of questions needing answered, the outfield needs to be figured out, is Kyle Manzardo going to be a Pirate next year? Mel Ramos most likely won't be a Pirate either. A lot of changes are on the table, and I look forward to recapping them all